Ultra-low-noise transition edge sensors for far infrared wavelengths: optical design, measurement and stray light control

E. A. Williams; S. Withington; D. J. Goldie; C. N. Thomas; J. Chen; P. A. R. Ade; R. Sudiwala; I. K. Walker; N. A. Trappe

doi:10.1117/12.2313611

9 July 2018 Ultra-low-noise transition edge sensors for far infrared wavelengths: optical design, measurement and stray light control

E. A. Williams, S. Withington, D. J. Goldie, C. N. Thomas, J. Chen, P. A. R. Ade, R. Sudiwala, I. K. Walker, N. A. Trappe

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10708, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX; 107081W (2018) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313611
Event: SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation, 2018, Austin, Texas, United States

Abstract

Ultra-low-noise Transition Edge Sensors (TESs) have been selected for the far-infrared Fourier transform spectrometer SAFARI on the space telescope SPICA, now under study as an M5 mission, operating in three wavelength bands: S-band from 34-60 μm, M-band from 60-110 μm and L-band from 110-210 μm. We report the fabrication and optical characterisation of a linear TES array for the SAFARI M-band, integrated with micromachined reflective backshorts and profiled pyramidal optical feedhorns. The design and construction of the cryogenic optical test facility used to illuminate the devices under test are described, featuring a variable temperature blackbody load, band-defining filters and an optical aperture. We observe effective numbers of optical modes, Nef f = 0.41 ± 0.03, and near-unity optical efficiencies in TES-backshort assemblies, with some loss of efficiency in the presence of horns. Stray light control measures are discussed in the context of a significant reduction achieved in long wavelength stray light detected by these devices.

Conference Presentation

Citation Download Citation

E. A. Williams, S. Withington, D. J. Goldie, C. N. Thomas, J. Chen, P. A. R. Ade, R. Sudiwala, I. K. Walker, and N. A. Trappe "Ultra-low-noise transition edge sensors for far infrared wavelengths: optical design, measurement and stray light control", Proc. SPIE 10708, Millimeter, Submillimeter, and Far-Infrared Detectors and Instrumentation for Astronomy IX, 107081W (9 July 2018); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2313611

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